After looking into ways to save money, the county is set to fill an important position in the county.

The county commissioners approved plans to replace Human Resource Director Allan Cordes with a full-time employee once his phased retirement is completed.

Cordes is working through a phased retirement as a way to save money.

“While we have budget issues, I think it’s a key position,” said County Coordinator Craig Oscarson.

The phased retirement has given the board about six months to explore ways to fill the position and save money, said Commissioner David Hillier. The county looked into various options like a part-time employee and an employee splitting duties in different departments. But at the end of the day, the commissioners saw the position as an important role. The human resource director oversees about 240 employees in the county. “There’s an awful lot of work to be done in the human resources office, and it appears that we need to go back to a full-time individual there,” Hillier said.

Cordes has been working part-time with a bank of 1,040 hours. He has about 300 hours left and is tentatively going to be done in August.

“I don’t know how we can successfully manage our employees without that position,” Hillier said.